Bill Text: NY J02957 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 2957 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Honoring Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. upon the occasion of her retirement after more than 34 years of distinguished service as Founding Executive Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-22)

Status: (Passed) 2020-03-10 - ADOPTED [J02957 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02957-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 2957

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

        HONORING Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. upon the occasion
        of  her  retirement  after  more  than  34  years of
        distinguished  service  as  the  Founding  Executive
        Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice

  WHEREAS,  Individuals  who give of their time and energies and serve
the best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration
and cannot be sufficiently extolled; and

  WHEREAS, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. has given not only of her time  and
energies  but  also  of  her competence, intelligence and leadership and
consequently has been designated for special honor; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud  to  honor  Esmeralda
Simmons,  Esq.  upon  the  occasion of her retirement after more than 34
years of distinguished service as the Founding Executive Director of the
Center for Law and Social Justice; and

  WHEREAS, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. committed herself from an early age
to advancing progress for people of African descent; her brilliance  and
dedication marked her as a leader; and

  WHEREAS,  From  this  drive  for excellence, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.
quickly rose through the public sector ranks and was chosen for an array
of high-level roles,  including  First  Deputy  Commissioner  for  Human
Rights  for  New York State, Civil Rights Attorney for the United States
Department of Education, New York State Assistant Attorney General,  and
New York City Assistant Corporation Counsel; and

  WHEREAS,  Despite  her  long  list  of professional accomplishments,
Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.  felt  persuaded  by  the  urgency  of  justice,
joining  forces  with  other  prominent organizers to create the CLSJ at
Medgar Evers College, the first  and  only  racial  justice  law  center
focused on the needs of New Yorkers of African descent; and

  WHEREAS,   Under   her  able  leadership,  CLSJ  became  a  hub  for
transformation and empowerment, offering its community critical  support
across  an  array  of challenges; these challenges included immigration,
police brutality, red-lining, community  advocacy  training,  education,
voting rights, and more; and

  WHEREAS,   Esmeralda  Simmons,  Esq.  chose  to  work  locally  with
community organizations using advocacy, community  education,  coalition
building,  and  organizing  methods;  serving  as both an activist and a
leader, she has been involved in the community empowerment  movement  in
Central Brooklyn and in progressive causes for her entire career; and

  WHEREAS,  As  an  attorney, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.   specializes in
racial justice issues, such as quality public education for students  of
color, voting rights, and cultural rights; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  CLSJ's  community forums and programs helped
thousands of vulnerable parents navigate the Department of Education and

foster care systems, providing resources and knowledge  which  empowered
them to effectively advocate for their children; and

  WHEREAS,  Under  the  luminous direction of Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.,
CLSJ also supported immigrants and incubated the  Medgar  Evers  College
Immigration  Center  which  provided legal services for undocumented New
Yorkers at a time when such comprehensive support did not exist; and

  WHEREAS, With Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.  at the helm, CLSJ helped  lay
the  foundation  for  the  development of the prolific "CUNY Citizenship
Now!"  programs which are currently housed across City University of New
York campuses; and

  WHEREAS, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.'s,  love  for  her  community,  her
passion   for  civil  rights,  community  empowerment,  and  her  fierce
determination  earned  her  the  respect   of   New   York's   political
establishment, and eventually her own seat at the table; she has proudly
served  on  several  major  public  boards  in New York City government,
including the New York City Board of Education and  the  New  York  City
Districting Commission, amongst others; and

  WHEREAS, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.  is a deeply spiritual woman who is
grounded  in  African  culture;  she  finds  constant inspiration in the
vision of her ancestors, her belief in peace, and her respect  for  life
and cultural diversity; and

  WHEREAS, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.  is the mother of three adult sons,
and  the grandmother of seven grandchildren; she resides in the Bedford-
Stuyvesant  neighborhood   of   Brooklyn   with   her   husband,   Lesly
Jean-Jacques; and

  WHEREAS,  After  34  years of leading the fight for justice at CLSJ,
Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.  publicly announced her  retirement  on  January
20,  2020;  her  legacy  will  shine on as the Center for Law and Social
Justice continues to  fight  for  the  rights  of  citizens  of  African
descent; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. upon the occasion of her retirement  after
more  than  34  years  of  distinguished  service  as Founding Executive
Director of the Center for Law and Social Justice; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Esmeralda Simmons, Esq.